The Best Humidifier Reviews and Ratings (2018 Top Picks)

The biggest enemy to your soft skin and the respiratory system is dry air (which is also cold).

Low humidity stirs up respiratory issues, your sinuses get uncomfortable, and the skin dries up. If you have a baby, then, things get worse, and no parent wants to see their baby sick when there is something you can do.

To prevent any of this from happening, you have to get the best humidifier. A humidifier adds moisture to the air increasing the air’s relative humidity. At the right humidity, between 45-65 percent, bacteria and viruses are unable to travel as fast as they do in the cold and dry air.

Unfortunately, finding the best humidifier is a challenge, given the big number of humidifiers online. In this review, we highlight the best humidifiers to meet your specific needs so as to make your life better.

If you are struggling with dry lips, dry/ itchy skin, and cracked furniture, then you have to try a cool mist humidifier. The air around your home or office is too dry, and the URPOWER 2nd Version Cool Mist Humidifier will make the air moist.

As a second version, it works better than the older version, and it emits more moisture. This humidifier lets you add your favorite essential oil as long as the oil is pure.

For reduced allergy, flare-ups and soft skin, you need a cool mist humidifier. This Anypro Cool Mist Humidifier runs moisturizes the skin for 10-16 hours when running continuously thanks to the 2-liter capacity and the Advanced ultrasonic technology. It has optional settings for your comfort.

Your dog and cat could benefit from some moist air if you get this MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier because this humidifier covers medium-sized rooms well.

It uses the unique Ultrasonic Cool Mist Technology which is why it runs continuously for up to 16 hours. You can adjust the mist level for your comfort using the high and the low setting. It has a nozzle that lets you direct moisture to where it’s needed.

For humidification of the whole room, you have to get this Levoit Humidifiers Vaporizer, Warm and Cool Mist Ultrasonic Air Bedroom Humidifier. It has a large water capacity, and the warm mist helps in reaching the ideal room humidity levels faster. It tells the current humidity level letting you set it easily. It has a touch and a remote control.

For Itchy skin, chapped lips and worsened respiratory issues you should consider getting a warm mist humidifier like this Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier.

It comes with a convenient carrying handle, and you can use it in different rooms. It has two output options, and you can use it in rooms of different sizes. The high setting is for maximum output or a larger room and low for a minimum output of for a smaller room. It has a 1-gallon capacity and runs quietly for up to 12 hours.

You can combat allergy, asthma, and sinuses using this TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier. It is the ideal humidifier for bedrooms because it is ultra-silent. It has ultrasounds which offer ultrasonic air diffusion running producing less than 38dB of noise for quiet humidification.

While keeping the air moisturized, its microporous cartridge rids the air of germs, micro organisms, and possible allergens.

The wicking filter of this Honeywell HCM350W Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier gets rids of impurities from the water, and this reduces the amount of white mist dust in the room. The moist air humidifying your dry skin doesn’t just keep your skin dry, but it also prevents micro-organisms in the water from reaching your skin. This way, it provides a clean moisture output.

(Best Filter-Free Humidifier)

The Vicks FilterFree Humidifier saves you money down the line because you don’t have to buy replacement filters every few months. As a replacement of the V4500 Filter Free Humidifier, it works better. It has a 1.2-gallon capacity, and it runs for up to 30 hours continuously.

(Best Humidifier for Sinuses)

The first thing that stands out from this VicTsing 300ml Cool Mist Humidifier & Diffuser is the sleek and stylish design and the wood grain finish. It looks all natural and primitive but, sitting on a table; it emits a cool mist. You can use plain water to humidify the room or add essential oils and take advantage of the aroma therapeutic smells to soothe your sinuses.

The large capacity of this Taotronics Warm & Cool Mist Humidifier makes it ideal for use in the whole house. With the cold and extremely dry winter air, this humidifier goes a long way in humidifying the house. This humidifier gets the house to be within the ideal humidity of between 45-65 percent because the warm mist increases the speed with which the air reaches the ideal level.

Reviews of the Best Humidifiers on the Market

If your sinuses are flaring up and you can’t stop coughing or itching your skin, you should get this URPOWER 2nd Version Cool Mist Humidifier. It works well for smaller rooms, and with the design improvements, this 2nd URPOWER humidifier emits more moisture than the older version.

This humidifier will complement your interior décor, and it doubles as a home accessory. If you don’t like the standard baby blue color, you can opt for any of the other six LED color options. This way, the humidifier easily matches your décor.

This humidifier is small and fits table tops easily. For it to run, you’ll have to plug it into a power source. You should, however, take precaution when plugging it into a power source because you will blow it up if incompatible.

What happens to the electric system when the water runs out? It shuts off automatically. It has a 100ml water capacity, and it runs on two settings, intermittent or continuous. Its whisper-quiet operation means that it runs quietly.

While it works well as a humidifier, you can also upgrade it for aromatherapy by adding your favorite and pure essential oil. However, you have to ensure that the essential oil isn’t corrosive. The humidifier will not harm or render ineffective the essential oils.

Things We Liked

The stylish container is BPA-free

Its size is ideal for small rooms only

It is an ideal humidifier for aromatherapy

thumbs-up

It is affordable

thumbs-up

It is highly functional thanks to the auto-shut off system and the two mist release settings.

Things We Didn't Like

This is Anypro’s new humidifier, an update of the 3.5L cool mist humidifier. As an updated version, it is better than the older version seeing as it is filter-free. A filter-free humidifier is easy to clean, and you won’t need to replace the filter after few uses.

The humidifier has a sleek design and a compact size that makes it a perfect fit for most side tables. The premium design of this humidifier comes from the use of high-quality and eco-friendly materials. Our favorite feature of this humidifier is its safety. It provides a safe environment for kids to play. Since the material used in the humidifier’s design is safe, your child will be in a safe environment.

The other feature that stands out from this humidifier is its running operation which uses the advanced ultrasonic technology. This technological advancement makes this humidifier run continuously for 10-16 hours. It also has a 2-liter water capacity that makes the long running time possible.

For comfort, you can adjust the moisture content in the air by using the high or the low mist level. It provides extra comfort with its soft night light for optional relaxation. This light makes this humidifier ideal for use in your baby’s room.

It maintains the ideal humidity level (45% - 65%) for all the time you leave it running. Depending on your needs, you can set the humidifier to run for 1, 3 or 6 hours using the optional timer settings. Once you set the timer by tapping the ‘clock,' you can go about with whatever you are doing because the device will automatically switch off when the time runs out or when the water level runs low

You can move it around easily or refill it effortlessly thanks to the detachable power adapter. You don’t have to carry the humidifier with the cord when pouring out water or cleaning it.

Things We Liked

It runs quietly compared to most whole house humidifiers

It works for hours

It has a premium, stylish design

thumbs-up

It is easy to use, and it lasts long

thumbs-up

It is filter-free

Things We Didn't Like

It isn’t the easiest humidifier to clean, and you may see mold growing in it.

If you live in a big house or have a large bedroom and the air feels too dry and hot, it only makes sense to buy a cool mist humidifier. While there are many other humidifiers, you can try the MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is our favorite.

It runs continuously for 16 hours thanks to the Ultrasonic Cool Mist Technology. The long running time comes from the 1.5-liter water tank capacity. You can also credit the long run-time to the two operations settings; high and low. The settings let you choose your most comfortable level of misty air.

Though it has a large water tank than other humidifiers in on the market, the water will run out eventually. When water runs low or when you remove the water tank the humidifier automatically shuts off.

If you are using the humidifier for the kid's bedroom, then, you may like that this humidifier’s optional night light. The night light has a soothing and a relaxing glow for relaxation, and you need this after a long day at work.

Most of us shy away from humidifiers because they tend to come with complicated designs. This MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is easy to use. It features an easy refill system, and you can turn mist away from areas that don’t need moisture using the 360-degrees mist nozzle.

Things We Didn't Like

This ultrasonic warm and cool mist humidifier is perfect for a large bedroom, the office or the living room thanks to its large capacity to cover up to 280 square feet. It has a 6-Liter tank.

The combination of the warm and cool mist technology is a stealth move to ensure that the room reaches the ideal room humidity in a shorter time. Warm mist increases the speed at which cold mist reaches desired room humidity.

Using the whisper quiet technology, the humidifier produces less than 36 decibels of noise making it one of the quietest humidifiers on the market. The production of mist is with the humidifier’s ultrasonic air diffusion. You can control it using a touch or a remote control.

Its smart auto-mode automatically diffuses mist adjusting the humidity in the air to a suitable level.

You can buy it with confidence thanks to the special leak proof design, the two year-warranty and the lifetime support offered by Levoit.

Things We Liked

It is super-quiet

It doesn’t have a filter that would get moldy or cost more because of constant replacement

The Smart Auto Mode automatically adjusts the humidity

thumbs-up

It is easy to use

Things We Didn't Like

Can you imagine staying in a house when the air feels dryer and colder than it does in the Sahara desert? Well, if the air around your home is making you uncomfortable exacerbating your allergies and drying your skin, it may be time to consider getting a warm mist humidifier.

This warm mist humidifier by Vicks is highly functional and runs for up to 12 hours continuously thanks to the large 1-gallon capacity. With this large capacity, this humidifier offers more versatility than other humidifiers because you can use it in a small or a large room. You just need to adjust the comfort settings between high and low. The handle makes it easy for you to move the humidifier between rooms.

The Whisper-Quiet operation lets this humidifier run quietly even when on the high setting. When the water level runs low, the humidifier shuts off automatically. You can sleep peacefully without any beeping. It also comes with a soft night light.

It is easy to use, refill and clean. The cleaning part is simple because the humidifier doesn’t have any filters. The translucent water tank lets you see the water level, and you can also tell when it’s time to clean the humidifier.

Because of the effectiveness of this humidifier in increasing the air’s humidity levels to the acceptable RH level of between 40 -60 percent, it comes highly recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The other unique feature of this humidifier is that it comes with a medicine cup and it lets you use the Kaz Inhalant or the Vicks Vaposteam.

Things We Liked

Its design makes it easy to move to the humidifier between rooms

It works for small and large rooms

It runs for up to nine hours on the high setting

thumbs-up

It increases the air’s humidity and reduces respiratory issues

Things We Didn't Like

Constant allergies suck the life out of you! Red and itchy eyes, constant sneezing, running nose and chest/ nasal congestion can make every morning nightmarish. While you can use antihistamines, daily medication isn’t good for your immune system. Instead of struggling with this, you can make the air around your home friendly using this Taotronics Cool Mist Humidifier.

It is a safe humidifier that works better than most other humidifiers on the market because of its microporous cartridge that thoroughly filters the water. This cartridge gets rid of all microorganisms creating pure and odorless air. Therefore, it reduces allergy flare ups, and you or your child will wake up feeling less congested.

It is the ideal bedroom humidifier. It’s small and fits small spaces. It runs quietly throughout the night thanks to the Ultra-Silent technology and the incorporation of ultrasounds in its design. Its humidification process is an ultrasonic air diffusion process which produces less than 38 decibels of noise. Therefore, it won’t keep you or your baby up all night.

The 4-liter water capacity provides up to 15 hours of humidification with pure and cool mist. This will last all night and most of the morning. You can adjust the humidity levels to your liking using the built-in timer and the low, medium and mist levels. The 360-degree nozzle lets you direct mist in your desired direction.

Dry air leads to dry skin and to rectify that, the air around your home or bedroom should be moist. You can keep the humidity levels within this ideal range (between 45-65 percent) using the LED display. The humidifier also has other levels of operation.

Things We Liked

It automatically shuts off when the water levels run low, and it also notifies you when you need to refill the tank

It runs quietly

It is easy to use and to set the different humidity levels

thumbs-up

It covers relatively large rooms

thumbs-up

The filter is reusable, and the cartridge purifies the air

Things We Didn't Like

The diffuser doesn’t work as an aroma diffuser, and you can’t use it with essential oils

Dry skin isn’t just ugly; it is also a weak point on your skin susceptible to infections. If you suffer from eczema or any other skin condition, then you know that you have to keep the skin moist but cool. This Honeywell HCM350W Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier is one of our favorite humidifiers for dry skin.

The humidifier has an advanced wicking filter which removes all impurities from the water in the humidifier’s tank reducing white dust. The wicking system also helps in providing a clean moisture output. The air released is soothing, and though invisible, it effectively relieves dry air discomforts.

How does the humidifier create a germ-free environment?

For a germ-free environment, the humidifier has a patented ultra-Violet Technology which kills up to 99.9 percent of mold, bacteria, virus, and fungi in the water. Sanitized water gets to the base where it is absorbed by the humidifier’s wicking system. The dry indoor air gets drawn in through the filter where it absorbs the moisture. The emitted air is fine, invisible mist.

Other features:

It runs quietly because of the QuietCare Performance. This Honeywell humidifier is 25 percent quieter than most evaporative humidifiers.

It has three-speed settings which let you adjust the moisture level and the sound level for your comfort. If running on the low-output level, it runs for 24 hours continuously. It has a 1-gallon capacity.

It is easy to clean and fill the humidifier thanks to the device’s premium design which features a break-resistant water tank with a wide opening.

Things We Didn't Like

If you have been putting off the purchase of a humidifier because of the cost associated with replacing the filters every few months, you should get this Vicks FilterFree Humidifier.

How does this filter-free humidifier work?

It has a water tank which feeds water to the base. At the base, the water is atomized using a mist plate that vibrates at a high frequency quietly propelling mist up the outlet. The mist comes out as a cool visible mist which mixes with the dry indoor air raising the room’s humidity levels.

Features of the Vicks FilterFree Humidifier

This humidifier produces a visible cool mist which offers significant relief from congestion and coughing. For soothing comfort, the humidifier holds up to 2 Vicks VapoPads. It has a dual scent pad slot which lets you increase the menthol scent’s intensity with the two scent pads. Therefore, you can finally breathe better with this humidifier.

With the translucent tank, you can see the water level, and you will know when the tank needs refilling. It operates continuously for 30 hours which makes it better than most humidifiers on the market. For comfort through a customized cool air output, it has a variable humidity control system. The tank also has a large opening that makes cleaning a breeze.

On the downside, you cannot add essential oils into this humidifier.

Things We Liked

It increases the humidity of the air lowering the survival of flu viruses.

Things We Didn't Like

If the sleek, compact, and stylish design of this wood-grained exterior humidifier with colorful accents doesn’t appeal to you, then you will like that you can use it to humidify dry air using the cool mist from water or aroma-filled mist from adding essential oils.

This VicTsing 300ml Cool Mist Humidifier looks great in every room, and when not in use, it functions as an accessory. It has a large capacity compared to most other humidifiers that work as aroma diffusers too.

With 300ml of water, the humidifier emits 30ml of moisture hourly meaning it can run for about 10 hours continuously. It automatically shuts off when water runs low for safety. The humidifier has four timer settings including 1/3/6 hours and steady.

It is easy to use and refill thanks to the cap that comes off easily. You don’t have to struggle to unscrew the cap when your hands are wet.

The adoption of the ultrasonic technology makes it quiet. It quietly gives off smooth and ultra-fine mist which helps soften the skin if dry. The aromatic essential oils included help relax your body, and since the air is cool and moist, your sinuses will feel better.

It has seven adjustable LED lights, and you get to choose between changing color and steady colors. You can have the lights bright or dim.

Things We Liked

It works well for the described hours, and the controls work well

It has a sleek and stylish design, and you can change the colors of the LED lights

It works as a humidifier and as a diffuser

thumbs-up

It runs for up to 10 hours quietly

Things We Didn't Like

The only way for you to prevent colds, dry and chaffed skin, wrinkles and dry/ warping furniture in winter is by using a humidifier. Cool mist humidifiers work great but a humidifier with that produces warm mist as well works better. Warm mist increases the speed at which the cold mist reaches the desirable humidity levels of between 45 and 65 percent by 20 percent. The humidifier comes with an accurate humidity sensor to guide you.

You can also use the cold mist alone using the three different mist levels on the humidifier. With this device’s 5.5L capacity, it runs for up to 16 hours. It has a 360 degrees rotating nozzle which helps to create a uniform level of mist in the room.

When the water level runs too low, the humidifier’s smart protection gets activated protecting the device. It has six operational controls in the form of LED icons that simplify the use of the humidifier. There is a control button for heating, sleep mode, humidity and there is a timer.

Things We Liked

The humidifier is movable between rooms easily using the handle

It runs quietly because of the WhisperQuiet operation

It is easy to set up and use thanks to the easy-to-read display.

thumbs-up

Works for hot conditions as well

Things We Didn't Like

Buying the Best Humidifier

While humidifiers are the best winter devices for preventing nose bleeds, chapped skin, dry furniture, and coughing, finding the right humidifier is challenging. There are numerous features you need to consider before buying. The most important factors include:

How To Choose The Best Humidifier

1. What do you need the humidifier for?

While getting a humidifier goes a long way in ensuring that your home’s or office air humidity is ideal, some humidifiers go beyond general humidification by offering extra benefits. If you (or your child) suffer from allergies, sinuses, eczema or asthma, you can get a humidifier that will alleviate the symptoms of the condition. By making the air favorable, allergy flare ups diminish and skin dryness ease. Just make sure you get the best humidifier for your condition.

2. The type of humidifiers

The first thing that strikes you when looking for humidifiers is that there are cool mist and warm mist humidifiers. The cool mist humidifiers form a huge percentage of all the humidifiers on the market, and it makes you wonder, which is the best cool mist humidifier? The search for the best warm mist humidifier is just as difficult.

What differentiates these two humidifiers?

Cool mist humidifiers can be evaporative or ultrasonic. The ultrasonic humidifiers use fans to blow air over a wet wick, and the ultrasonic ones have vibrating nebulizers that emit water. The best cool mist humidifiers include the URPOWER 2nd Version Cool Mist Humidifier and the Anypro Cool Mist Humidifier. These emit cool mist raising the humidity of the room thereby preventing the effects of dry air.

Warm mist humidifiers heat water to a boil and only emit the resulting steam. A good example of this is the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier.

3. The size of the room

Humidifiers vary by the size of the room they cover. The ideal indoor humidity is between 45-65 percent, but this value drops up to 10 percent in winter. Since cold air holds less moisture and heating the house makes the air dryer, you have to get a humidifier that will cover the whole room.

4. Size of the Humidifier

How big should your humidifier be? In your search for your best air humidifying device, you will come across small, medium and large-sized humidifiers. However, your search should be guided by the area the model can cover adequately.

Small and medium-sized models will work best for spaces between 300 and 500 square feet. These humidifiers can sit comfortably on table tops or the nightstand. You can also move them between rooms. They are inexpensive, but you will have to refill the tank frequently.

If you need a humidifier to cover a large space, then get the large or the extra-large. They have larger tank capacities, harder to clean, and unless they have wheels, they aren’t portable.

5. Kind of water from your municipality

In case the water from your municipality is hard water, then you will need to get a demineralization filter to minimize dust from the minerals in tap water. Fortunately, some humidifiers come with demineralization filters. The filters need frequent replacement though.

6. Safety

Warm mist humidifiers use boiling water to create steam. If you have kids around, this may not be the best humidifier. For safety, go for dual-mist humidifiers since they don’t heat up as much or just buy a cool mist humidifier. A good humidifier also has an automatic shut off system that goes off when the humidifier’s water level runs low. This protects you and the device.

Features to Look for in Humidifiers

Capacity

You should buy a humidifier whose capacity is right, and the size should also be right for the humidifier to humidify the whole room.

Ease of use

The best humidifiers sit on the table top or a console, and they are easy to move and clean. Consider the ease of using the controls and the visibility of the display humidity levels. Humidifiers whose tanks fill from the top are easy to refill. Unfortunately, some of these humidifiers are too big, and they won’t fit in a small space or make refilling easy.

Ease of cleaning

To maintain a humidifier, you have to keep it clean. The easiest way of cleaning the humidifier involves draining, rinsing and drying before the next use. You should clean it weekly and if it has residue, use vinegar or a bleach solution recommended by the manufacturer.

Humidistat / Hygrometer

To monitor the room’s moisture levels, the humidifier comes with a hygrometer which improves the performance of the humidifier by turning the humidifier off when it reaches the desired level of humidity. It turns on the humidifier when the humidity drops.

Low noise

An ultrasonic humidifier is quieter than an evaporative humidifier and a warm mist humidifier louder than an ultrasonic humidifier though it is quieter than an evaporative humidifier.

Adjustable output humidity

A room with humidity levels above 65 percent or 50 percent depending on your ideal humidity isn’t desirable as it affects the integrity of your home peeling off paint and causing condensation on windows. Extreme humidity encourages the growth of mold, dust mites and bacteria.

Automatic shut off

The best humidifiers detect low water levels and turn off automatically when the water tank is empty. This protects the humidifier from damage and potential fires.

Maintenance

Research by the Mayo Clinic indicates that the humidifier tank is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Improper cleaning aggravates respiratory issues and allergies.

Built-in anti-microbial system

Germ-free humidifiers have built-in systems that filter out and kill bacteria and germs. They feature unique filters, cartridges or use UV radiation ensuring that the air you breathe is clean and free of disease causing pathogens.

Benefits of Humidifiers

The above features which you need to put into consideration show that humidifiers play important roles. However, for their functionality, they have to hone the best features. So, what can the best humidifier do?

1

Reduced risk of infections: viruses and bacteria travel better when the humidity level is too low. With a humidifier increasing the humidity level, the bacteria and viruses are unable to travel too well keeping you healthy and safe.

2

Fast healing: a humidifier keeps your throat and the nasal passages moist. If you are suffering from a sinus infection, a cold or the flu, you will heal faster with a humidifier on. Dry air irritates the airways worsening respiratory issues.

3

Few sinus flare ups: since dry air dries out your sinuses, your resistance to viral and bacterial infections reduces. Moist air reduces your risk of infection, and a humidifier lets you wake up with a comfortable nose and throat.

4

Soft and vibrant skin: does your skin dry out every winter despite using the best moisturizers? Get a humidifier! Dry air saps out moisture from the air and your skin causing dryness, flaking, dullness and premature aging.

5

Protecting furniture and houseplants: to prevent drooping of plants and cracking/ splitting of furniture, you have to get a humidifier.

6

Lower heating bills

7

Improved sleep and no more cracked voice in the morning

8

Fewer electric shocks

Guide on use of humidifiers

check

Always use a hygrometer to prevent the air from being extremely humid.

check

Use demineralized or distilled water to reduce the build-up of minerals and to make cleaning easy and infrequent.

If the humidifier has a filter, change the filter regularly, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Which Humidifier Is Best?

A humidifier is the most important gadget for your home in winter. It will moisten the air making the air less habitable to bacteria and virus. From this review, it is clear that you have to find the best humidifier that meets your needs.

The best humidifier is the URPOWER 2nd Version Humidifier, a cool mist humidifier by URPOWER. It has a premium design, and its compact size means that you can move it easily between rooms. It doubles up as an essential oil diffuser and buying it means that you get two-in-one benefits. The price is friendly, and you can afford it even when cash-strapped.

It comes with a night light; it has programmable on/off cycles and an auto-shutoff feature when the water runs low. With its 100ml capacity, it only works well for small rooms.

TheBestHumidifiers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Additionally, TheBestHumidifiers.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.